Coney Hill 57 - 17 Exmouth

Returning from their trip to Coney Hill, Exmouth will be under no illusions about the challenge that faces them in the South West 1 League. Coney Hill is a typical no frills Gloucester club where rugby is king and as the Cockles discovered two seasons ago, when they were both in SW 2, they thrive on quick ball and a poor first tackle is generally punished by their pacey backs. Driving over a hundred miles up the motorway might not be the best way to prepare for a rugby game but the Cockles did in fact take the lead within two minutes when South African new boy Murray Daniel crashed over for a try on his League debut.  Cadywould’s kick was off target but the lineout and scrum that had led to the score suggested that the Cockles pack was a match for the Coney eight.

Any thoughts of an easy ride were dashed five minutes later when, with the line at their mercy, a knock on spoilt a certain score by Coney Hill. Exmouth won the scrum but a sloppy kick from defence gifted the ball to speedster Neville Codling who tore open the defence and passed to scrum half Leon Liggitt who scored the first of his three tries. Rory Baker converted the first of his six conversions. Coney went further ahead within four minutes, when the back row combined with open side Ballinger scoring close in, but the Cockles were competing well and following a period of pressure closed the gap to 14pts-10 with twenty minutes played.

A kick ahead by Ben Hough was carried on by Jack Downie and when the winger was held up Hough was on hand to take the pass and score. Exmouth carried on the offensive with Captain Gary Hooper making a signature run but a penalty on the home 22 passed the initiative back to Coney Hill. Six minutes later, with Exmouth flanker  Ben Boswell off the field receiving blood treatment,  a well rehearsed move saw the Coney Hill  fullback run from deep and aided by some flaky defence Mark Knight scored and the trusty boot of Rory Baker took the score to 21pts-10.

Coney Hill were now starting to look the part and although Exmouth were more than holding their own up front, the Coney back row, supported by scrum half Leon Liggitt, with all his National rugby experience, was beginning to make the difference. With just over thirty minutes played an opportunity to close the score was missed when the usually reliable Cadywould was again off target. With only minutes to go to the half time whistle another break by flyer Codling, this time from half way, provided Mark Rimmer with a try. With the score at 26pts-10 and with Coney Hill controlling the game the result was no longer in doubt.

Flanker John Bird came on for the injured Andrew Smith and although Exmouth started well with Ben Boswell leading the attack this came to nothing when a knock on just short of the line spoilt all the good work. From the scrum Liggitt fired the ball downfield and following a scrum on the Exmouth 22 Mark Knight scored. With the score at 31pts-10 Coney Hill were back where they had left off. Matters did not improve when Chris Strong left the field with an injury followed minutes later by John Bird who was sin binned.  Coney Hill capitalised immediately and James Walker scored wide out and a thumping kick by Rory Baker took the score to 38pts-10.

With ten minutes to go and the game losing some of its sparkle Liggitt took a quick penalty and scored a converted try. Exmouth did come back when a break by Tom Elliott gave Seb Phelps space to score and Cadywould’s conversion eased the score to 45pts-17. Not surprisingly Coney Hill had the last word when they scored in the last minute.